System and method for detecting and acting upon a violation of terms of service

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining whether a past throughput of past traffic communicated between a communication device and a communication network meets a first threshold value, resulting in a first determination; responsive to the first determination being that the past throughput meets the first threshold, transmitting an instruction to the communication device to restrict a first subsequent throughput of first subsequent traffic to no greater than a second threshold value; determining whether the first subsequent throughput has been restricted, resulting in a second determination; and responsive to the second determination being that the first subsequent throughput has not been restricted, taking one or more actions to enforce a second subsequent throughput of second subsequent traffic to no greater than a third threshold value, wherein the third threshold value is lower than the second threshold value. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/215,076 filed Dec. 10, 2018. The contents of the foregoing are herebyincorporated by reference into this application as if set forth hereinin full.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for detecting andacting upon a violation of terms of service (e.g., a mobile devicetelecommunications terms of service). In one example, the detecting canbe performed by analyzing traffic communicated between a communicationdevice (e.g., a mobile communication device) and a communication network(e.g., a cellular network). In another example, the acting upon theviolation can take the form of a sequence of multi-tiered actions. Inone specific example, the multi-tiered actions can take the form offirst instructing the communication device (and/or instructing a user ofthe communication device) to take a first (less restrictive) correctiveaction and then, if the communication device (and/or the user) fails totake the first corrective action to unilaterally enforce a second (morerestrictive) corrective action on the communication device (and/or onthe user).

BACKGROUND

Tethering occurs, for example, when one computing device connects to amobile phone via WI-FI or BLUETOOTH (a “hotspot”) that then connects toa mobile network. Packet data are passed through the tethering mobilephone. This is sometimes a violation of terms of service with the mobilenetwork carrier. The user of the tethered device is able to avoid payingfor a data plan or is able to be on a lower cost plan that limits datausage while the tethering mobile phone is on an unlimited data plan.Network data show that a single tethering device is often used toconnect many tethered devices to the mobile network. Illegal tetheringcosts mobile network carriers more than $3B USD every year worldwide.Also, mobile customers sometimes put SIM cards into unauthorized mobiledevices (even though many such devices are known to cause performanceissues for the mobile network).

Conventionally, there are limited ways to identify tethering activity.Further, available consequences typically are to do nothing, terminate auser's service, or perhaps charge the user a tethering charge (that theymight have otherwise paid for the tethering usage).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary, non-limitingembodiment of a communication network in accordance with various aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a system 200 (which can function, for example, fully orpartially within the communication network of FIG. 1 ) in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2B depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2C depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2D depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of amobile network platform in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for detecting and acting upon a violation of terms ofservice. Other embodiments are described in the subject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include mechanisms (e.g.,for a mobile telecommunications network) that detect mobile deviceviolations of terms of service (e.g., unauthorized mobile-to-mobiletethering, using a mobile device outside of a contracted “primaryservice area”, using a mobile device outside of a contracted “primarytime of day”, and/or using a SIM card in an unauthorized device). Invarious examples, the mobile devices may include cell phones, laptops,and tablets. In various examples, the terms of service violations can bescored through a specialized algorithm. In one specific example, thescore can be used to variably throttle packet communications to and/orfrom the violating device. In another specific example, the throttlingcan be carried out at a packet gateway, via a multi-service proxy,and/or via a specialized mechanism (e.g., software and/or firmware) onthe mobile device.

In various examples, detection of tethering can be carried out byidentifying one or more of several different data transfercharacteristics of tethered packet data communications including IPTime-To-Live value, TCP Timestamp Monotonicity, Clock Frequency. Inother examples, detection of tethering can be carried out based uponnumber/extent of past violations of the user, sniffing user agent data,data usage, IMEI device type, and/or MAC Address. The identifying oftethering can be used to assign a numerical score to the extent of thetethering that is used. A set of known tethering devices, their datausage characteristics, as well as the numerical value associated withthe extent of the terms of service violation(s) can be used in concertwith machine learning. Machine learning can be used to adapt the scoringweights per tethering indicator input over time to optimize the scoringalgorithm.

In various examples, detection of unauthorized devices can be carriedout by comparing the IMEI of a device to a database of approved devices(the IMEI can be determined because, when a mobile device connects to amobile network, the device's IMEI, IMSI, and MSISDN are known). Thecomparing of the IMEI of the device to the database of approved devicescan give a result that a device is either authorized, unauthorized(specifically to not be used on the mobile network), or not listed (aless egregious level of unauthorized). Each of these various results canhave associated therewith different score inputs.

In various examples, detection of usage outside of a contractedgeography can be carried out (e.g., via network triangulation, directreporting of location by the mobile device). In this regard, it is notedthat within a mobile carrier network coverage footprint, differentcontracts may exist based on geography. This has been used historicallyto encourage calling behavior that keeps network capital growth costslower. When a mobile user is using their device outside of a contractedarea, this can also be one of the inputs to score terms of serviceviolations.

In one embodiment, after a scoring of a total set of violations (e.g.,tethering, unauthorized device, usage outside of a contracted geography,and/or use at an unauthorized time) for any mobile device over aprescribed duration, consequences are applied to the offending device.The consequences can be applied per a rules engine including (but notlimited to): messaging the mobile device; throttling all packet data;throttling specific data types and/or specific domains and/or specificservices; terminating (100% throttling) packet data; or terminatingservice. Messaging to the mobile device can accompany each level ofconsequence. The scoring of mobile device behavior can be done at alltimes, 24/7. It is expected that the vast majority of devices willlikely score sufficiently low that no consequences will be indicated.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a block diagram is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network 100 inaccordance with various aspects described herein. For example,communication network 100 can facilitate in whole or in part the termsof service violation detecting, scoring, instructing and/or enforcingdescribed herein. In particular, a communications network 125 ispresented for providing broadband access 110 to a plurality of dataterminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access 120 to aplurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via base station oraccess point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality of telephony devices134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140 to a plurality ofaudio/video display devices 144 via media terminal 142. In addition,communications network 125 is coupled to one or more content sources 175of audio, video, graphics, text and/or other media. While broadbandaccess 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 and media access 140are shown separately, one or more of these forms of access can becombined to provide multiple access services to a single client device(e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content via media terminal142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access via switching device132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements(NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc. for facilitating the broadband access 110,wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or thedistribution of content from content sources 175. The communicationsnetwork 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, avoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP)network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G,or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network,UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless accessnetwork, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communicationsnetwork.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digitalsubscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal.The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers,netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modemsuch as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/orother access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can includea 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point thatoperates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or otherwireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobilephones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or othermobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a privatebranch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIPgateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. Thetelephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with orwithout a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephonydevices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cablehead-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or othermedia terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions withor without a set top box, personal computers and/or other displaydevices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcasttelevision and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streamingvideo and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks,data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or othersources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can includewired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc. can include service switching points, signal transferpoints, service control points, network gateways, media distributionhubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and othernetwork nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic overwired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and otherpublic networks as well as one or more private networks, for managingsubscriber access, for billing and network management and for supportingother network functions.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a system 200 (all or part of which can function within thecommunication network 100 of FIG. 1 ) in accordance with various aspectsdescribed herein. As seen in this FIG. 2A, Terms of Service ViolationProcessing Subsystem 202 is in operative communication with DevicePermissions Database 204. The Terms of Service Violation ProcessingSubsystem 202 is also in operative communication with SMS (shortmessaging service) Subsystem 206, Multi-service Proxy (MSP) 208, RadioNetwork Core 210, and Packet gateway 212. Packet gateway 212 is inoperative communication (via Internet 214) with various Web Pages 216,Domains 218 and/or Web services 220. Further, Radio Network Core 210 isin operative communication with devices 220, 222 and 224 via antennasystems 226A, 226B and 226C. In this example, device 220 is being usedoutside of a contract area, device 222 is an unauthorized device anddevice 224 is providing tethering to each of devices 228A-228E. Inoperation, Terms of Service Violation Processing Subsystem 202 caninteract with Device Permissions Database 204 to: (a) provideinstructions to one or more of Devices 220, 222, 224, 228A, 228B, 228C,228D and/or 228E as described herein; and/or (b) enforce traffic ruleson one or more of Devices 220, 222, 224, 228A, 228B, 228C, 228D and/or228E as described herein. In one example, Device Permissions Database204 can comprise various account information, device information, termsof service information and/or quality of service information in order tofacilitate the functionality described herein. In one example,communications between various elements of this FIG. 2A can bebi-directional communications.

In one example, a procedure for mitigating terms of service violation(s)is as follows: (1) Detect terms of service tethering violation(s) usingvarious data features of the mobile device as described herein; (2)Compare mobile device activity with purchased mobile service plan. Ifcompliant, return to step (1); (3) Assign a score to non-compliantbehavior by measuring the various data features (e.g., for tethering)and/or other factor(s) such as amount of data usage, geography, devicetype, etc. Each input is weighted per prescribed weights (e.g., derivedfrom machine learning algorithms) associating weights with modifiedcompliance; (4) Apply packet data throttling to non-compliant devicecommunications (e.g., transmission and/or reception) through the packetgateway and/or multi-service proxy. Optionally, text (SMS) thenon-compliant device (and/or email the user and/or call the user) with amessage to the effect of the throttling action. If the violation ofterms of service is scored sufficiently high, then throttling can be100% and/or data services can be removed from device privileges and/orthe mobile device can be removed from AuC/HSS, effectively terminatingservice; (5) In the event of repeat violations and consequentialthrottling, the mobile device can be sent a text (SMS) and/or an emailcan be sent to the user and/or a call can be placed to the user toinform the user that it will be necessary to either terminate theviolation behavior, purchase service options to continue the behavior,or risk having service disconnected; (6) Go to step 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, various steps of a method 2100 according to anembodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2B, step 2102 comprisesdetermining whether a past throughput of past traffic communicatedbetween a communication device and a communication network meets a firstthreshold value, wherein the determining whether the past throughput ofthe past traffic meets the first threshold value results in a firstdetermination. Next, step 2104 comprises responsive to the firstdetermination being that the past throughput of the past traffic meetsthe first threshold value, transmitting an instruction to thecommunication device to restrict a first subsequent throughput of firstsubsequent traffic communicated between the communication device and thecommunication network to no greater than a second threshold value. Next,step 2106 comprises determining whether the first subsequent throughputof the first subsequent traffic has been restricted as specified by theinstruction (that is, has been restricted such that the first subsequentthroughput of the first subsequent traffic communicated between thecommunication device and the communication network is no greater thansecond threshold value), wherein the determining whether the firstsubsequent throughput of the first subsequent traffic has beenrestricted as specified by the instruction results in a seconddetermination. Next, step 2108 comprises responsive to the seconddetermination being that the first subsequent throughput of the firstsubsequent traffic has not been restricted as specified by theinstruction (that is, has been restricted such that the first subsequentthroughput of the first subsequent traffic communicated between thecommunication device and the communication network is no greater thanthe second threshold value), taking one or more actions to enforce asecond subsequent throughput of second subsequent traffic communicatedbetween the communication device and the communication network to nogreater than a third threshold value, wherein the third threshold valueis lower than the second threshold value.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2B, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2C, various steps of a method 2200 according to anembodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2C, step 2202 comprisesdetermining whether a communication device has communicated with acommunication network in a manner that violates a service agreement,wherein the determining whether the communication device hascommunicated in the manner that violates the service agreement resultsin a first determination. Next, step 2204 comprises responsive to thefirst determination being that the communication device has communicatedin the manner that violates the service agreement, transmitting aninstruction to the communication device to restrict a throughput oftraffic communicated between the communication device and thecommunication network to no greater than a threshold value. Next, step2206 comprises determining whether the throughput of the traffic hasbeen restricted as instructed (that is, has been restricted such thatthe throughput of the traffic communicated between the communicationdevice and the communication network is no greater than thresholdvalue), wherein the determining whether the throughput of the traffichad been restricted as instructed results in a second determination.Next, step 2208 comprises responsive to the second determination beingthat the throughput of the traffic has not been restricted as instructed(that is, has been restricted such that the throughput of the trafficcommunicated between the communication device and the communicationnetwork is no greater than the threshold value), taking one or moreactions to prohibit the communication device from receiving from thecommunication network additional network traffic that carries a giventype of communication.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2C, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2D, various steps of a method 2300 according to anembodiment are shown. As seen in this FIG. 2D, step 2302 comprisesdetermining, by a system including a processor, whether a communicationdevice that has communicated with a communication network has providedtraffic via tethering to one or more other communication devices,wherein the determining whether the communication device has providedthe traffic via the tethering results in a first determination. Next,step 2304 comprises responsive to the first determination being that thecommunication device has provided the traffic via the tethering, sendingan instruction, by the system, to the communication device to restrictthe tethering to one of: a tethering throughput of no greater than afirst threshold value (the tethering throughput can be, for example, atotal amount of tethered traffic allowed for all of the tethereddevice(s) communicating with the tethering device); communication withone or more permitted communication devices; or any combination thereof.Next, step 2306 comprises determining, by the system, whether thetethering has been restricted as specified in the instruction, whereinthe determining whether the tethering has been restricted as specifiedin the instruction results in a second determination. Next, step 2308comprises responsive to the second determination being that thetethering has not been restricted as specified in the instruction,taking, by the system, one or more actions to cap a total throughput ofcommunication between the communication device and the communicationnetwork to no greater than a second threshold value, wherein the secondthreshold value is less than the first threshold value.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2D, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

As described herein, various embodiments provide for mitigating terms ofservice violations by first identifying and scoring the violations andthen variably throttling (reducing) packet throughput available to thetethering device via interaction between the scoring subsystem and apacket gateway, multi-service proxy, and/or specializedsoftware/firmware on the mobile device. Throttling could, in extremecases, effectively terminate all packet data from specific mobilephone(s).

As described herein, various embodiments provide network operators witha way to detect compliance (or non-compliance) of the rules (e.g., theterms of service).

As described herein, various embodiments provide network operators witha way to enforce compliance to the rules (e.g., the terms of service).

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms to score theextent of the terms of service violations. Further, as described herein,various embodiments provide mechanisms to variably affect the offendingmobile device(s) per the score. In one specific example, a mechanismscores and variably impacts packet data on a mobile device involved in aviolation of mobile network carrier terms of service.

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms to allowmobile network carriers to improve customer experience on mobilenetworks anywhere in the world.

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms to allowmobile network carriers to improve mobile network profitability onmobile networks anywhere in the world.

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms to enhancethe way mobile network carriers deal with terms of service violations,effectively terminating behavior that can cost certain large carriershundreds of millions of dollars. Various examples can enable a networkcarrier to stop usage of unauthorized devices. Various examples canenable a network carrier to offer service contract types that aregeographically optimized. By eliminating (or reducing) violationbehavior, a network carrier can be able to offer a better customerexperience and improve mobile network profitability.

As described herein, various embodiments provide mechanisms forscore-based data throttling for terms of service violations.

As described herein, various mechanisms are provided for detectingviolations of terms of service and for acting upon such detectedviolations.

As described herein, specific uses of network measurements to detect avariety of terms of service violations are provided.

As described herein, mechanisms are provided that use machine learningto compute a score. The score can be used to carry out one or moreactions (e.g., throttling, termination).

In various examples, control systems can be used to implement some orall of the functionality described herein.

In various examples, operation can proceed as follows: (a) detect one ormore actions of a user (and/or of a device of the user); (2) score thedetected action(s); (3) modify one or more behaviors of the user (e.g.,via throttling, termination, etc.).

As described herein, various mechanisms are provided for detectingtethering (such as detecting one device simultaneously connecting tomultiple domains).

As described herein are mechanisms to facilitate modification of userbehavior.

In various embodiments, scoring of terms of service violations can takeinto account the extent that a violation is due to user driven action(as opposed to the extent that the violation results from backgroundactions such as advertising and/or analytics). In one specific example,deep packet inspection can be used to isolate user driven action (andthen the scoring would, in this example, be based only upon the userdriven action (and not upon advertising, analytics or the like)).

In various embodiments, a mobile device (and/or a user of the mobiledevice) can first be given an opportunity to correct a terms of serviceviolation. Then, if the terms of service violation is not corrected(e.g., not corrected within a given time period), a more severe effectcan be forced.

In one specific example, a two-tiered approach can comprise instructthen force.

In one specific example, one or more quality of service (QOS) metricscan be used as a basis for instructing a mobile phone (or other device)to implement a particular action.

In one specific example, one or more current network conditions can beused as a basis for instructing a mobile phone (or other device) toimplement a particular action.

In one specific example, one or more violations can be used as a basisfor instructing a mobile phone (or other device) to implement aparticular action.

In a network (e.g., a mobile phone network) congestion can causeretransmission of packets, which in turn can cause even more congestion.Various embodiments described herein reduce this problem by, forexample, instructing a mobile device to slow down a hotspot throughputor turn off tethering entirely (wherein, if the instruction is notcomplied with, then a more severe action can be forced upon the mobiledevice).

In one example, one or more instructions can be supplied. In onespecific example, instruction(s) can be supplied by a network (e.g., amobile telecommunications network). In another specific example,instruction(s) can be supplied to a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone).

In another embodiment, terms of service violation information can beused to dynamically send a specific instruction to a device (e.g., amobile device) to perform a particular action and/or to not perform aparticular action. In one specific example, the mobile device can betold “device, you will take the following instructions and modify whatyou are doing”. In another specific example, the mobile device can beinstructed to send no more than 1.5 megabytes per second to the basestation; then, if the instruction is not complied with, the mobiledevice will have a more severe behavior enforced by the base station,for instance, in this example, a throughput limit of 1.0 megabytes persecond (the more severe restriction can be communicated to the mobiledevice (and/or a user of the mobile device) at the same time as theinstruction). In another specific example, the mobile device can beinstructed to throttle (or eliminate) certain type(s) of transmissions(e.g., video transmissions and/or packet data).

In one example, the network (e.g., mobile telecommunications network)can instruct the device (e.g., mobile device) to send to tethereddevice(s) and/or receive from tethered device(s) only particular type(s)of content (e.g., prohibit communication via tethering of video data).

In one example, the network (e.g., mobile telecommunications network)can implement for a given device (e.g., mobile device) a rule toprohibit transmission by the mobile device of particular type(s) ofcontent (e.g., prohibit transmission by the mobile device of videodata).

In one example, the network (e.g., mobile telecommunications network)can implement for a given device (e.g., mobile device) a rule toprohibit transmission to the mobile device (by the mobiletelecommunications network) of particular type(s) of content (e.g.,prohibit transmission to the mobile device of video data).

Referring now to FIG. 3 , a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication networkin accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular avirtualized communication network is presented that can be used toimplement some or all of the subsystems and functions of communicationnetwork 100, the subsystems and functions of system 200, and methods2100, 2200 and 2300 presented in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D. Forexample, virtualized communication network 300 can facilitate in wholeor in part the terms of service violation detecting, scoring,instructing and/or enforcing described herein.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leveragescloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via atransport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or oneor more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, thiscloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leveragesapplication programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity fromservices and operations; supports more nimble business models; andrapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirementsincluding traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity ofperformance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typicallyintegrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communicationnetwork employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330, 332, 334, etc. thatperform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152, 154,156, etc. For example, the network architecture can provide a substrateof networking capability, often called Network Function VirtualizationInfrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that is capable of beingdirected with software and Software Defined Networking (SDN) protocolsto perform a broad variety of network functions and services. Thisinfrastructure can include several types of substrates. The most typicaltype of substrate being servers that support Network FunctionVirtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwarding capabilities basedon generic computing resources, with specialized network technologiesbrought to bear when general purpose processors or general purposeintegrated circuit devices offered by merchants (referred to herein asmerchant silicon) are not appropriate. In this case, communicationservices can be implemented as cloud-centric workloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 1 ),such as an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330 composed of NFVsoftware modules, merchant silicon, and associated controllers. Thesoftware can be written so that increasing workload consumes incrementalresources from a common resource pool, and moreover so that it'selastic: so the resources are only consumed when needed. In a similarfashion, other network elements such as other routers, switches, edgecaches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the common resource pool.Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planningand growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wiredand/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces toprovide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130,media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distributionof content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, insome cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place,and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times,the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannotbe abstracted or virtualized, and might require special DSP code andanalog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementationas VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included intransport layer 350.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transportlayer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide specificNFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to supportnetworking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-onemapping of traditional network element function or alternately somecombination of network functions designed for cloud computing. Forexample, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain namesystem (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility managemententity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers forIP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers andother network elements. Because these elements don't typically need toforward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributedacross a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of thecapability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higheravailability than its former monolithic version. These virtual networkelements 330, 332, 334, etc. can be instantiated and managed using anorchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualizednetwork function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilitiesof the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. to provide the flexible and expandedcapabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. Inparticular, network workloads may have applications distributed acrossthe virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computingenvironment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrateworkloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these thirdparty locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein. In order to provide additional context for various embodimentsof the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of thesubject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computingenvironment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332,334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented viacomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combinationof hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 canfacilitate in whole or in part the terms of service violation detecting,scoring, instructing and/or enforcing described herein.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors aswell as other application specific circuits such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine,programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals ordata and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. Itshould be noted that while any functions and features described hereinin association with the operation of a processor could likewise beperformed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured dataor unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM),flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesor other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to storedesired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or“non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any informationdelivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signalsrefers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged in such a manner as to encode information in one or moresignals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediacomprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 4 , the example environment can comprise acomputer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, asystem memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that canfurther interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can bestored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within the computer 402,such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAMsuch as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured forexternal use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or,to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as theDVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can beconnected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, amagnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428,respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external driveimplementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus(USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies arewithin contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storagemedia accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refersto a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and aremovable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other types of storage media which arereadable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methodsdescribed herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412,comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions ofthe operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown)can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick,a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and otherinput devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through aninput device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408,but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, anIEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. Itwill also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display,a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving displayinformation associated with computer 402 via any communication means,including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to themonitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral outputdevices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remotecomputer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycomprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storagedevice 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprisewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can beconnected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless communicationnetwork interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wiredor wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise awireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprisea modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are example and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers can beused.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bedin a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is awireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enablessuch devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out;anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to providesecure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can beused to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wirednetworks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operatein the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with productsthat contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can providereal-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernetnetworks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 5 , an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156,and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example, platform 510 can facilitatein whole or in part the terms of service violation detecting, scoring,instructing and/or enforcing described herein. In one or moreembodiments, the mobile network platform 510 can generate and receivesignals transmitted and received by base stations or access points suchas base station or access point 122. Generally, mobile network platform510 can comprise components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers,or disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g.,internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM))and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well ascontrol generation for networked wireless telecommunication. As anon-limiting example, mobile network platform 510 can be included intelecommunications carrier networks, and can be considered carrier-sidecomponents as discussed elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 510comprises CS gateway node(s) 512 which can interface CS traffic receivedfrom legacy networks like telephony network(s) 540 (e.g., publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN))or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 canauthorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from suchnetworks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, orroaming, data generated through SS7 network 560; for instance, mobilitydata stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside inmemory 530. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based trafficand signaling and PS gateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTSnetwork, CS gateway node(s) 512 can be realized at least in part ingateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated thatfunctionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PSgateway node(s) 518, and serving node(s) 516, is provided and dictatedby radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 510 fortelecommunication over a radio access network 520 with other devices,such as a radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions cancomprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to themobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550,enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can beembodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced withmobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to benoted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at leastin part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) orradio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packetdata protocol contexts when a data session is established; other datastructures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can begenerated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 cancomprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetizedcommunication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Finetworks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises servingnode(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey thevarious packetized flows of data streams received through PS gatewaynode(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that relyprimarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver trafficwithout reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s)can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, ina 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRSsupport node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applicationsthat can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows,and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Suchapplication(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (forexample, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided bymobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that arepart of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. Inaddition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utilityserver(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, anoperations and maintenance server, a security server that can implementat least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as othersecurity mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s)secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 toensure network's operation and data integrity in addition toauthorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s)can provision services from external network(s) like networks operatedby a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s)can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobilenetwork platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same serviceprovider), such as distributed antenna networks that enhance wirelessservice coverage by providing more network coverage.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of mobilenetwork platform 510. To that end, the one or more processor can executecode instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It is should beappreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, whichoperates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related tooperation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational informationcan comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served throughmobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; applicationintelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rateprograms, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistentwith telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, orwireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also storeinformation from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 canbe, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as aremotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 5 , and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines,programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 6 , an illustrative embodiment of a communicationdevice 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as anillustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobiledevices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devicesfor communication via either communications network 125. For example,computing device 600 can facilitate in whole or in part the terms ofservice violation detecting, scoring, instructing and/or enforcingdescribed herein.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interfacehaving graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped withcapacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect howmuch surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion of thetouch screen display. This sensing information can be used to controlthe manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of the userinterface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housingassembly of the communication device 600 or an independent devicecommunicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (suchas a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity modulesuch as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifyingsubscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and soon.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in theclaims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only anddoesn't otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “afirst determination,” “a second determination,” and “a thirddetermination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determinationis to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “datastore,” data storage, “database,” and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further,nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory cancomprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can bepracticed with other computer system configurations, comprisingsingle-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computingdevices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-heldcomputing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tabletcomputers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can begenerated including services being accessed, media consumption history,user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained byvarious methods including user input, detecting types of communications(e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams,sampling, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring ofthis information can be responsive to an authorization provided by theuser. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject toauthorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in,an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selectiveauthorization based on types of data, and so forth.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection withautomatically detecting, scoring, instructing and/or enforcing) canemploy various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodimentsthereof. Moreover, a classifier can be employed to determine a rankingor priority of certain information. A classifier is a function that mapsan input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, . . . , xn), to aconfidence that the input belongs to a class, that is, f(x)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ a probabilistic and/orstatistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysis utilitiesand costs) to determine or infer an action that a user desires to beautomatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is an example ofa classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates by finding ahypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which the hypersurfaceattempts to split the triggering criteria from the non-triggeringevents. Intuitively, this makes the classification correct for testingdata that is near, but not identical to training data. Other directedand undirected model classification approaches comprise, e.g., naïveBayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logicmodels, and probabilistic classification models providing differentpatterns of independence can be employed. Classification as used hereinalso is inclusive of statistical regression that is utilized to developmodels of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments canemploy classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generictraining data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UEbehavior, operator preferences, historical information, receivingextrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via alearning or training phase within a classifier constructor and featureselection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automaticallylearn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited todetermining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquiredcell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which ofthe acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existingcommunication network coverage, etc.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, theterms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, orcomprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to anoperational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, whereinthe entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. As an example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By wayof illustration and not limitation, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In addition, these components can execute from variouscomputer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by asoftware or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. While various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communicationsmedia. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but arenot limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize many modifications can be made to this configuration withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to meanserving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments ordesigns. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended topresent concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, theterm “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive“or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “Xemploys A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusivepermutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both Aand B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoinginstances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication and the appended claims should generally be construed tomean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context tobe directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”“subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to awireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with referenceto the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless contextwarrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should beappreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automatedcomponents supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacityto make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially anycomputing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited tocomprising, single-core processors; single-processors with softwaremultithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-coreprocessors with software multithread execution capability; multi-coreprocessors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; andparallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, aprocessor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), acomplex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploitnano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular andquantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimizespace usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor canalso be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” “data storage,”“database,” and substantially any other information storage componentrelevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

What has been described above includes mere examples of variousembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentembodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/orclaimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupledto”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/orindirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Suchitems and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions,communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functionalblocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signalconveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one ormore intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format ofinformation in a signal, while one or more elements of the informationin the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can berecognized by the second item. In a further example of indirectcoupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the seconditem, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more interveningitems.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, the operations comprising: identifying, according to ananalysis of past traffic that is communicated between a communicationdevice and a communication network, a first portion of the past trafficthat is attributable to user driven action and a second portion of thepast traffic that is attributable to advertising; calculating a score bytaking into account the first portion of the past traffic that isattributable to the user driven action and not taking into account thesecond portion of the past traffic that is attributable to theadvertising; determining, based on the score, that a past throughput ofthe past traffic satisfies a first threshold value, resulting in a firstdetermination; and responsive to the first determination, transmittingan instruction to the communication device to restrict a firstsubsequent throughput of first subsequent traffic communicated betweenthe communication device and the communication network to no greaterthan a second threshold value.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thefirst threshold value is set according to a service agreement, andwherein the service agreement is between an operator of thecommunication network and a responsible party associated with thecommunication device.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the responsibleparty is an owner of the communication device.
 4. The device of claim 1,wherein the determining that the past throughput of the past trafficsatisfies the first threshold value comprises determining that the pastthroughput of the past traffic equals or exceeds the first thresholdvalue.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprisesending an additional instruction to the communication device to permittransmission of only certain types of content from the communicationdevice to a tethered device and to permit receipt of only the certaintypes of content by the communication device from the tethered device.6. The device of claim 5, wherein the certain types of content excludevideo data.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise: determining an amount of time that had elapsed since thetransmitting of the instruction to restrict the first subsequentthroughput of the first subsequent traffic; determining whether theamount of time that had elapsed is equal to or greater than a thresholdamount of time; and performing one or more actions after it isdetermined that the amount of time that had elapsed is equal to orgreater than the threshold amount of time.
 8. The device of claim 7,wherein the threshold amount of time is selected from a group of: oneminute, one hour, one day, one week, and one month.
 9. The device ofclaim 7, wherein the device is part of the communication network,wherein the device comprises one or more servers, and wherein the one ormore actions are facilitated by the one or more servers.
 10. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining whetherthe first subsequent throughput of the first subsequent traffic has beenrestricted as specified by the instruction.
 11. The device of claim 1,wherein the communication device comprises a mobile communicationdevice, and wherein the instruction that is transmitted to thecommunication device is presented to a user of the communication deviceon a display of the communication device.
 12. The device of claim 11,wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cell phone, asmartphone, a tablet, or any combination thereof.
 13. A non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that,when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitateperformance of operations, the operations comprising: identifying,according to an analysis of traffic that is communicated between acommunication device and a communication network, a first portion of thetraffic that is attributable to user driven action and a second portionof the traffic that is attributable to advertising or analytics;calculating scores by accounting for the first portion of the trafficthat is attributable to user driven action and ignoring the secondportion of the traffic that is attributable to advertising or analytics;determining, based on the scores, that the communication device hascommunicated with the communication network in a manner that violates aservice agreement, resulting in a first determination; and responsive tothe first determination, transmitting an instruction to thecommunication device to restrict a subsequent throughput of subsequenttraffic communicated between the communication device and thecommunication network to no greater than a second threshold value. 14.The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, whereinthe manner that violates the service agreement further comprises: thecommunication device transferring traffic with the communication networkat a higher throughput than permitted under the service agreement; thecommunication device transferring traffic with the communication networkat a higher volume than permitted under the service agreement; thecommunication device providing tethering to one or more othercommunication devices in violation of the service agreement; or anycombination thereof.
 15. The non-transitory machine-readable storagemedium of claim 13, wherein the determining that the communicationdevice has communicated with the communication network in the mannerthat violates the service agreement comprises a first analysis of firstpackets transferred between the communication device and thecommunication network.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable storagemedium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise sending anadditional instruction to the communication device to permittransmission of only certain types of content from the communicationdevice to a tethered device and to permit receipt of only the certaintypes of content by the communication device from the tethered device,and wherein the certain types of content exclude video data.
 17. Amethod comprising: determining, by a processing system and based onanalyzing past traffic communicated between a communication device and acommunication network, that a first portion of the past traffic isattributable to user driven action and a second portion of the pasttraffic is attributable to analytics; calculating, by the processingsystem, a score by taking into account the first portion of the pasttraffic that is attributable to the user driven action and not takinginto account the second portion of the past traffic that is attributableto analytics; determining, by the processing system and based on thescore, that a past throughput of the past traffic satisfies a firstthreshold, resulting in a first determination; and responsive to thefirst determination, providing, by the processing system, an instructionto the communication device to restrict a first subsequent throughput offirst subsequent traffic communicated between the communication deviceand the communication network to no greater than a second threshold. 18.The method of claim 17, wherein the determining that the past throughputof the past traffic satisfies the first threshold comprises determiningthat the past throughput of the past traffic equals or exceeds the firstthreshold.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising sending anadditional instruction to the communication device to permittransmission of only certain types of content from the communicationdevice to a tethered device and to permit receipt of only the certaintypes of content by the communication device from the tethered device.20. The method of claim 19, wherein the certain types of content excludevideo data.